Lycium Barbarum: A Traditional Chinese Herb and A Promising Anti-Aging Agent

Abstract

Lycium barbarum has been used in China for more than 2,000 years as a traditional medicinal herb and food supplement. Lycium barbarum contains abundant Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs), betaine, phenolics, carotenoids (zeaxanthin and β-carotene), cerebroside, 2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (AA-2βG), β-sitosterol, flavonoids and vitamins (in particular, riboflavin, thiamine, and ascorbic acid). LBPs are the primary active components of Lycium barbarum. In this review, we discuss the pharmacological activities of LBPs and other major components. They have been reported to mediate significant anti-aging effects, through antioxidant, immunoregulative, anti-apoptotic activities and reducing DNA damage. Thus, the basic scientific evidence for anti-aging effects of LBPs is already available. However, additional studies are needed to understand mechanisms by which LBPs mediate anti-aging properties. Novel findings from such studies would likely pave the way for the clinical application of traditional chinese medicine Lycium barbarum in modern evidence-based medicine.

Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides Improve Testicular Spermatogenic Function in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

“…Lycium barbarum has long been well-known as a traditional Chinese medicine that promotes health and longevity and is mainly cultivated in the Ningxia district of China (6,7). Studies have shown that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) possess multiple pharmacological functions including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-tumor, and anti-aging functions (8)(9)(10)(11)(12).…”

Integrated omics profiling of dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitic mice supplemented with Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum)

“…Wolfberry (WOL), the fruit of Lycium barbarum (member of Solanceae), is a sweet red berry that has been used traditionally as a medicinal food in China and other Asian countries like Vietnam, Japan and Korea 8,9 . WOL comprises of various polyphenols 10 including phenylpropanoids, coumarins, lignans, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, chlorogenic acid derivatives 10 .…”

New Insights for Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Aging-Related Diseases: Herbal Medicine as Potential Therapeutic Approach

“…. Lycium barbarum has pharmacological actions such as regulating immunity, antitumor activity, nervous system function, liver protection, and slow aging process [185]. Hu et al [186] administered different doses of Chinese wolfberry, via the intragastric route, to a mouse model of AD induced by the combination of AlCl 3 and D-gal.…”